
un'45- 



Jf;r c^^emarium. 



Good Men a Nation's Strength, 

A SERMON "T^S-y 

PREACHED ON THE OCCASION OF THE DEATH OP 



GEN. ROBERT E. LEE, 



In Christ Church, Alexandria, Va. 

OCTOBEH* 16, 1870. 
BY THE RECTOR, 

Rev. RANDOLPH H. McKIM. 



Published by Unanimous Request of the Vestry of Christ 
Church, Alexandria. 



BALTIMORE: 

GEORGE LYCETT, 44 LEXINGTON ST. 

1870. 



.1 



BALTIMORE -i 



11^7 



■^ 



SERMON. 



"O my father, my father! the chariot of Israel and the horsemen 
thereof."— II Kings, xiii. 14. 

This was the exclamation of Joasli, the king of 
Israel, as he stood by the death-bed of Elisha, the 
prophet. Although he had not hearkened to the 
instructions and warnings of the man of God, nor 
done him honor during his life, yet, when the prophet 
fell sick, and was about to die, the king hastened to 
his side, and "wept over his face and said: "O my 
father, ray father ! the chariot of Israel and the horse- 
men thereof." Ungodly man though he was, he had 
discernment to perceive that Elisha, as a servant and 
prophet of Jehovah, was of the greatest service to him 
and his kingdom ; that he was the bulwark and 
defence of Israel, and that his loss was of far more 
moment than the loss of an army. 

My brethren, the death of a godly man is always 
a calamity. The lamentation of this king of Israel 
over Elisha, is, in a measure, appropriate at the death 
of every faithful servant of God. For good men are a 
nation's strength. They constitute the most effectual 
shield and safeguard to a state. 

Show me a nation composed of good men, and I 
will show you a nation great, prosperous and happy. 



IN MEMORIAM, 



There justice would be meted out with an even hand, 
and rulers would labor to promote the public good — 
not to accomplish their own selfish ends. There, 
oppression and tyranny would be unknown. There, 
legal processes would cease, since all men would scru- 
pulously observe the laws, and no man seek to " go 
beyond or defraud his neighbor in any matter." 
There, universal good-will and charity would render 
the people one family — a nation of brethren — the 
happiness of each, the interest of all. There, too, 
virtue would have, in large measure, banished disease 
and emancipated the mind from that bondage to the 
lusts and passions of the body which now degrades 
and debases so many lofty intellects. Thus, in such a 
nation, the mind would attain its full development — 
(no longer dwarfed by the degrading tyranny of the 
body) — and the mournful spectacle, now so often 
witnessed, of great intellectual powers bound to the 
car of Appetite, and dragged in the mire of debauchery 
and shame, would be impossible. On the contrarv, 
the intellect, free from all enfeebling or debasing influ- 
ences, would soar witii a steady, upward flight, to 
sublime regions of thought now unattainable. And 
more than this, the fellowship and communion of the 
spirit with its Father-God, would ennoble and elevate 
the character more and more, and we should behold a 
nation of heroes ! 

Such is a feeble picture of the grand spectacle which 
would be presented by that nation whose people were 
all " sober, righteous and godly." Behold, then, how 
"righteousness exalteth a nation!" Social harmony 
and happiness, political freedom and integrity, perfect 



security of person and property, physical health, men- 
tal power, moral grandeur — these would be the char- 
acteristics of such a state ! 

Can this be denied, my brethren ? Will any man 
hesitate to acknowledge that this is substantially a cor- 
rect delineation of a Christian state f I venture to 
affirm that there is not one in this assembly who does 
not assent to tiie justice of this representation. And 
if so, then I ]>oint to the inference which inevitably 
flows from it. It is this: just so far as any state ap- 
proximates to the model of a Christian state, to that 
extent will it approach the acme of prosperity and hap- 
piness. In other words, the more godly men any state 
contains, the greater will be its real progress towards 
the goal of perfection. 

We are justified, therefore, in claiming that good 
men are a nation's strength, its best defence, its highest 
glory. Like that noble Roman matron, who, when 
asked to display her jewels, pointed to her sons; so 
tiiat state wluch can boast of virtuous and godly 
citizens, may well count them her strength and pride; 
and while other states glory in their wealth or their 
military prowess, she may point to her Christian sons 
and say : " These are my jewels ! " 

Yes, we may challenge universal assent to the senti- 
ment that the virtuous and the good are the shield and 
the glory of a commonwealth. Even though you 
believed the Christian Faith a delusion, and Christian 
people fanatics, you could not doubt that if the pre- 
cepts of Christianity were faithfully practised in any 
community, that community would be truly prosper- 
ous and truly great. Whatever doubts you might 



have about the inspiration of Scripture, you could not 
question the practical benefit which would result from 
the general practice of its moral precepts. But then, 
my hearers, no man ever has put them into practice, 
nor ever can, unless he have believed v.'ith all his 
heart in the Lord Jesus Christ. And, therefore, 
though I were addressing an assembly of skeptics and 
freethinkers, insiead of a Christian congregation, I 
might still challenge assent to the sentiment, that 
Christian men are the best safeguard and the most pre- 
cious possession of a state. 

But I am not (thank God) addressing such an as- 
sembly. I am loath to believe that any of my hearers 
are avowed unbelievers. Nay, I cherish the hope that 
every one of you is ready to bow to the Gospel of the 
Lord Jesus Christ. How much more, then, may I ex- 
pect from 2/ow a hearty " Amen" to the sentiment I have 
expressed ! You believe in the superintending provi- 
dence of God, and therefore will not hesitate to ac- 
knowledge tliat the Almighty will bless that land 
wliere godliness prevails. You have learned from the 
Scriptures that many times in the history of the world, 
evil has been averted from a land for the sake of the 
godly men that were in it. You have been taught 
that the " Effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man 
availeth much." You have read many examples of it 
in Scripture, and perhaps have knoAvn many in your 
own experience ; and, therefore, you will be ready to 
acknowledge that the prayers of the righteous ward off 
many calamities, and bring down many blessings. 

In view of all these things, I may confidently an- 
ticipate that you will agree that godly men are " the 



L 



GEN. ROBERT E. LEE. 



cliariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof;" and that 
your hearts will echo the sentiment I have expressed, 
that the death of a godly main, is always a calamity and 
an occasion for public grief. 

How much more is this the case when death removes 
a man who is as great as he is good — who occupies the 
pinnacle of earthly fame, and therefore exerts an influ- 
ence for good as wide as civilization — whose name and 
memory will be cherished with tender devotion in the 
hearts of millions of the present generation, and will 
shine with undying lustre on the page of history, 
affording to all future generations an example of 
manly virtue and Christian fiith ! 

Such an occasion, my brethren, occurs but rarely in 
the history of the world. Seldom, alas ! is earthly 
fame found in company with Christian faith. Seldom 
are those whose names have obtained a world-wide 
renown found bowing in submission to the cross of 
Christ ! The men whom the world delights to honor 
are usually so well satisfied with earthly laurels that 
they have not labored for the amaranthine crown ! 
And, while we admire their genius or their learning 
or their prowess, we cannot point to them as models of 
Christian virtue and bid our young men follow in 
their footsteps as they followed in the footsteps of the 
Redeemer of mankind. 

But, my brethren, such an occasion as I have 
described has occurred to us during the past week. 
In the death of Roi^ert Edavard Lee has closed the 
career of a man who was indeed as good as he was 
great; whose life affords as bright an example of 
Christian faith as of military genius. And therefore 



we deem it fit that even the house of God should wear 
the emblems of mourning — not because Lee was a 
great soldier, not because he was a pui-e and stainless 
patriot, not merely because he was a model of upright- 
ness and morality. No ! if he were only these, much 
as I might deplore his loss, I could not, as a minister 
of Christ, give my consent that the church of the 
living God should put on sackcloth and ashes for 
him ! But because Robert Lee was as devout as a 
Christian as he was distinguished as a man — because 
he was as faithful as a soldier of the cross as he was 
illustrious as a soldier of what he believed to be the 
cause of right — because in him the cause of religion 
has lost one of its best and ablest supporters, and the 
Episcopal Cliurch one of its brightest ornaments — for 
these reasons I have thouglit it well that this venerable 
church where the illustrious dead was wont to wor- 
ship — where in the solemn rite of confirmation he 
renewed his baptismal vow " manfully to fight " under 
the banner of the cross and "to continue Christ's 
faithful soldier and servant to his life's end " — and 
where he often knelt to receive the memorials of his 
Redeemer's death and passion ; — I say I have thought 
it meet and right that this church, at least, should be 
draped with the emblems of mourning, as a fit expres- 
sion of our sorrow that so bright a light has gone out 
in Israel, and as a means of emphasizing to this con- 
gregation those lessons of virtue and fortitude, of 
humility and faith which his life ^fiords. 

The loss of such a man, my brethren, may well be 
lamented by every friend of religion as well as by 
every patron of virtue. And as yesterday men of all 




parties, north and south, east and west, bowed in 
reverent sadness at his grave, uniting in one spon- 
taneous outburst of sorrow for a man whose greatness 
was without reproach — so to-day the Christian church 
everywhere may fitly join in mourning his h)ss, while 
from every heart goes up the lamentation of the king 
of Israel : — " my father, my father ! the chariot of 
Israel and the horsemen thereof!" 

I am not here, my brethren, to pronounce his 
eulogy. That honorable task I leave to other and 
abler hands. Mine is an humbler, but perhaps a more 
important task ; it is as a minister of religion, to hold 
up his noble example as a hero of the faith for the 
imitation and emulation of those who survive hini. It 
is not my object to contribute to his glory — no, my 
brethren, the pulpit is not the place for that — but 
through his life and character to show forth the glory 
of the Redeemer whom he served so faithfully. 

1. With this view I point to him first of all as an 
example of filial piety. There is more than one old 
dwelling in Alexandria M'hich could testify to Robert 
Lee's dutiful obedience to his mother and his ever 
watchful and tender devotion to her in her declining 
years. There are traditions floating in this community 
which show how he, the youngest son, was the stay and 
support of his mother. 

In these days when filial respect and obedience are 
so rare, and their opposites so alarmingly common, it 
is well that the example of the departed hero on this 
point should be carefully pondered: by parents, that 
they may ask themselves whether they are faithful in 
requiring obedience to the fifth commandment; by 



10 IN MEMORIAM. 



children and youth, that they may inquire whether they 
are careful to keep this commandment. I will only 
add that both at school and at West Point, Lee was a 
model of diligence and good conduct. He did not find 
it necessary to assert his manliness by idleness, miscon- 
duct or dissipation. Young men ! lay this to heart. 

2.- I point to Robert Lee, secondly, as an example 
of temperance and virtue. All through life he exer- 
cised an habitual self-restraint. He " kept his body 
under and brought it into subjection." He did not 
allow appetite to be his master. He was not in bondage 
to his 2>ct^sions, 

Who ever saw him frequent the bar-room or the 
gaming table? Who ever heard violent or abusive or 
profane or unchaste language from his lips? Who ever 
heard a whisper against his virtue or his integrity ? 
Oh ! if the young men of our land would but learn at 
his grave to emulate his virtuous and temperate life — 
we should have a blessed consolation in his death ! 

3. I point you next to his unaffected modesty and 
genuine humility. Of these virtues he afforded a most 
illustrious example — one indeed which no public man, 
perhaps, ever equalled. Who ever passed so entirely 
unscathed through such an ordeal in this respect ? 
Wondrously perfect in form and feature; courtly and 
elegant in his manners; possessed of splendid abilities 
and extensive attainments; from his earliest manhood 
the object of admiration and adulation ; if any young 
man might be excused for indulging a vain self-esteem, 
surely it was Robert Lee. But his mind was too 
well balanced to yield to vanity. He was not tena- 
cious of his privileges or jealous of his reputation. 



GEN. ROBERT E. LEE. 11 



He was not ambitious for preferment or eager for pop- 
ular applause; but ever ready to take any post, how- 
ever humble, which might be assigned Iiim. In the 
meridian of his glory when success crowned his arms, 
and a grateful people was almost ready to worship his 
name, his modesty and humility shone conspicuous, 
and he continued the quiet, unassuming Christian gen- 
tleman he had ever been. It may truly be said of 
him that he 

„ Hath borne his faculties so meek, hath been 
.So clear In his great Oitice, that his virtues 
Will plead like Angels, trumpet-tougued." 

Now these are peculiarly Chridlan virtues; and the 
fact that he possessed these, in so eminent a degree, is 
evidence of unusual attainments in the Christian life. 
I cannot refrain from remarking how painful a con- 
trast is observable, as a general rule, among men who 
are possessed of fine abilities, or who occupy high 
places before the world ! 

4. Once more I point to this illustrious man as an 
example of jKitience, fortitude, and resignation. He 
was himself a bright illustration of that immortal sen- 
timent to which he gave utterance in the darkest hour 
of his life — " Human virtue should be equal to human 
calamity." By divine grace his virtue rose to the full 
measure of his calamity. As prosperity could not un- 
duly elate him, adversity could not utterly cast him 
down. As glory could not intoxicate him, humilia- 
tion and defeat could not crush him. His mind rose 
superior to misfortune, and he proved to the world 
that he was as invincil)le in endurance as he was 
mighty in action. Never was he so great as in the 



hour of adversity. Never did he win so magnificent a 
victory as when lie conquered himself and bowed with 
dignified submission under the strokes of misfortune. 
Yes, brethren, but for those very misfortunes, we 
should never have known how great a man he was. 

Let the people he loved so well prove themselves 
worthy of him by learning from his example, patience 
under misfortune, fortitude in the hour of adversity, 
and in all things resignation to the will of the 
Almighty Disposer of events. But let them remem- 
ber that as he acquired them only through divine 
grace, so also they must seek them by the same means. 

5. Lastly, ray brethren, I point to the great Robert 
Edward Lee as an example of Christian faith and 
conduct. He w^as great in counsel, yet he made the 
Word of God " the man of his counsel." He was a 
man of uncommon wisdom, yet he continually sought 
wisdom from " the only wise God," " the Father of 
Lights." He was a great Captain, yet he bowed in 
humble contrition at the feet of Jesus and owned Him 
as "the Captain of his salvation." His name and 
fame filled the world, yet he " gloried " in nothing 
" save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ ! " Few 
men ever lived a more scrupulously moral and upright 
life than he, yet (give heed, O ye who would substitute 
morality for religion !) he did not iiesitate to acknow- 
ledge himself an unworthy sinner before God : he felt 
that mere morality would not suffice; he owned that 
Christ's atoning merits constituted his only hope of 
pardon and eternal life. In harmony with his views 
on this point was his conduct. Witness the fact that 
his first project after being called to preside over 



GEN. EOBEET E. LEE. 13 



AVashington College, Avas the erection of a chapel, 
where professors and students might daily meet to wor- 
sliip the Almighty. And one of tlie last public acts 
of his life was to appeal to the young men of the Col- 
lege to attend the daily services in that chapel. 

Yes, my brethren, Eobeet Lee was a good soldier 
of the Cross. He was not ashamed of the Gospel of 
Christ. Nay, he gloried in it as " the power of God 
unto salvation." His life was an illustration of its 
precej)ts, and when his last foe came upon him, the 
great captain was not taken by surprise ; nor did he 
shrink from the conflict; but, clad in the panoply of 
God and confident in Christ, his Redeemer, he met the 
King of Terrors with a smile of triumphant hope on 
his brow; he gave forth the Christian soldier's defiant 
challenge, "O death! where is thy sting ? O grave! 
where is thy victory?" And when he grappled with 
the foe he " came off conqueror and more than con- 
queror through Him that loved him ! " 

So true is the saying of the beloved Disciple, " This 
is tlie victory which overcometh the world, even our 
faith." It is this feature, my brethren, in the character 
of Lee which above all others should be studied in 
order to a correct understanding of his life, and a just 
estimate of his services to the world. This is the key 
to his whole career; this is the secret of his transcend- 
ant greatness — he was a sincere and devout Christian. 
He might have been a great soldier, he might have 
been a self-sacrificing patriot, but he could not have 
been the Robert Lee at whose grave to-day all good 
men drop a tear, had he not sat at the feet of Jesus and 
learned of Him who is "meek and lowly in heart." 




14 



IN MEMORIAM. 



The same is true in reference to his services to the 
world. The cause to wliich he consecrated his genius 
proved a failure, and all his brilliant victories and 
heroic struggles ended at last in defeat — but his life 
was not a defeat or a failure. He has won moral vic- 
tories, whose lustre will never grow dim, whose fruits 
will never perish ! He has left behind hini a record 
which will be pointed to as long as time shall endure, 
as a rare illustration of Christian faith and heroism ! 
He has taught the world that the Christian religion 
cm turn defeat into victory, and failure into success. 
And by so doing he has rendered services to the cause 
of religion which can only be measured by the extent 
and immortality of his fame! This, tlien, brethren, is 
the supreme reason that we bewail his loss ! This is 
why we mourn for him as the sons of Jacob mourned 
for their father, " with a great and very sore lamenta- 
tion!" This is why, as we cast a last sad look at his 
noble form wrapped in the cold mantle of death, we 
cannot restrain our tears, crying, "O my father, my 
father ! the chariot of Israel and the horsemen 
thereof!" 

It is a sacred privilege which we claim, and which 
none would surely deny us, to weep over our departed 
hero. But we may not, we must not, forget that his 
death imposes upon us no less sacred a duty — it is to 
rej)air his loss, as far as we may, by following in, his 
footsteps, and striving to be, each in his sphere, a hero 
of the Faith. 

Christian brethren, "a burning and shining light " 
has been extinguished in the Church : see, therefore, 
that ye " let your light shine before men " all the 



GEN. EGBERT E. LEE. 



15 



more brightly, if, by any means, ye may repair the 
loss of his bright example. Emulate his modesty, his 
humility, his patience, his fortitude, his resignation, 
his unswerving faith, his devout and holy life. 

Young men, when you are tempted to listen to the 
syren song of Skepticism, remember Robert Lee. 
He did not deem it credulity to believe in the 
inspiration of the Scriptures. He did not deem it 
weakness to bow to the holy teachings of Jesus Christ 
and His Apostles. He was not ashamed to confess 
himself a guilty sinner before God, and to own that 
all his hopes rested on a Crucified Redeemer. 

To those whom I may call his fellow-soldiers, I 
address the eloquent words of Bossuet, on the occasion 
of the death of the Prince of Conde : " Approach and 
bewail your great commander. I can almost persuade 
myself that I hear you saying: Is he then no more — 
our intrepid chief, who, through the rugged paths of 
danger, led us on to victory? His name, the only 
part of him that remains, is all-sufficient to excite to 
future exertion ; his departed spirit now whispers to 
our souls the sacred admonition that if we hope to ob- 
tain at death the reward of our labors, we must serve 
our God in Heaven, and not be satisfied with serving 
our [country] on earth." 




IBJe'Zl 



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